Post-hole digger.



w. LllmsmolvlE Pos1 HOLE BIGGER. APPLICATION FILED VNOV. Il, i916. 1,287,070. Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

SI I WzZ'erM/zdsrow UNITED srATnsraTENT oFiioE.

y WALTER nnnns'rnoivr, or` A-inMoivn, MONTANA, f

i Applicationledf'November 11, 1916.

To all wfwmzfmaylconcewtf i i Beit' known that I, VALTEHILUNDSTROM,

a citizenl of therUnited'Sta'tes, residing; at Almont, in thecounty of'lMorton and'tState: .have inventednewf andi useful Improvements in VPost-Hole Diggers, i

of North Dakota,

of whichthe following is aspecification.

This invention comprehends the provision oit' a post hole digger embody-ingvanovelv combination and construction of'parts-'tol facilitate the ,handling and manip'ulationof'I a device of this character, the'invention residing. within the'scopefof` what is claimed.

To this end the invention embodies among.v

otherfeatures an inner andan outer tubular member, each carrying a cutting element and a coperating'clutch member which per#` mits said members to be operated 1n unison, l

and one reversed independently of the other whereby the device can be manipulated from a given position of the operator and without changing the position of the hands.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detail description is read in connection with theaccompanying drawing, wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View therethrough showing the clutch members separated.

The device constructed in accordance with my invention embodies an inner tubular member 10, and an outer concentrically disposed tubular member 11 which parts may be constructed from any suitable material, and dimensions Without departing from the spirit of the invention. These members are similar in the respect that each is provided with a reduced portion deiining a shoulder, the shoulder of the inner member being indicated at 12 and the shoulder of the outer member being indicated at 13. These shoulders are provided for a special purpose which will be hereinafter clearly set forth. The auger 14 is formed on the lower eX- tremity of the inner member 10 and projects an appreciable distance beyond the corresponding extremity of the outer member 11, while cutting blades 15 are secured to the outer member 11 in the vicinity of the auger 14, the blades 15 being disposed at any suitable angle with respect to each other in the most advantageous position consistent Specic'aton of LettersgPatentl serial No. 130,832. t I

for the purpose for which they, areaiintended. The .innen members 10 projects appreci-V able distan'cef above a thez .corresponding eX- tremity offthe outer membersllley andihas se#` curedthereto in :anyV suita'blefmannenfarcross handlel': "Upon them'emberfzll at a` pointi immediately beneath the`` handle 16' z is a nut; 7 c having@ ya clutchfengaging;` surface 118i adapted 1 to'v coperate" witliithe clutch 'engagf' ingrsurfafce 191 of;` a similar nuts 20;:seeured Patented; A'u'g; 191171'.

upon :the `upper' yextrem'ity-i fofthe' .innen mem-i 'i beru'lOJ: rPhew-nuts7 17 sand' 20 .r'espeetively.'V constitute: clutch:'enga'g'ingil :members `whichl when operatively associated permite the nerf and* o'ut'er .members as yaAA uniti to tbe rotated through the instrumentality of the handle 16.1 Enc-i'rcling'thef' reduced portion oftheinner member 10 is an eXtensile sprin 21 having one end bearing against the shoulder 12 of said member, and its opposite eX- tremity bearing against the shoulder 13 of the outer member, this spring operating to force the respective members in opposite directions, and obviously maintaining the clutch members 17 and 20 respectively associated. With the clutch members thus associated the operator can retain the initial purchase obtained upon the handle 16 during the operation of the device, because as the handle 16 is rotated in one direction the inner and outer members respectively are rotated as a unit, but the handle 16 may be reversed together with the inner member 10 independently of the outer member 11, and again rotated in a proper direction to drive the inner and outer members in the ground in unison. In other words the clutch members permit the tool to be operated with a ratchet principle, which renders the device in its entirety to be conveniently handled and easily operated. When the device has been worked into the ground the required distance, the inner member 10 is pulled upwardly independently of the outer member 11 a distance to remove the auger 14 from the solid portion of the ground, and upon the limit of this independent movement of the inner member 10, both of the said members 10 and 11 can be easily Withdrawn from the ground as a unit. With a device constructed in accordance with my invention a maximum amount of work can be accomplished in a minimum of time, the device being simple in construction and cheap to manufacture.

While it is believed that from the foregoing descrip tages of the desire to hav herein shown and preferred emb and that such ch when desired as what is claimed.

What is claimed is z- 1. A post hole digg andv outer tubular members ca tive sliding adju lower extremity o ting bla member in the vi able means interposed b and operating to norma d said cutting the auger beyon corresponding ex ber, coperating the respect engaged un able means,

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for e it understoo anges may stment, an a der the iniuence o and a handle ca ner member for rotating t tion the nature and advanpendently of or in unison with the outer ion Will be apparent, I member as described.

d that What is described is illustrative of member and an outer member, said members odiment of the invention, being capable of sliding adjustmen an aube resorted to fall Within the scope of member, cutting blades secured exteriorly to 2. A post hole digger embodying an inner ger on the lower extremity of said inner the outer member in the vicinity of said auger, said inner and outer members being odying inner 'formed to provide opposed shoulders7 repable of relasilient means encircling the inner member uger on the and bearing against said opposed shoulders the inner member, cutto normally project the auger beyond the d exteriorly to the outer said blades and the corresponding extremity cinity of said auger, yieldof the outer member, cooperating clutch etvveen said members members carried by the respective inner and lly project said blades and the held engaged by said yieldable means, and a tremity of the outer me handle carried by the inner member for roclutch members carried by tating the latter independently of or in uniers and normally held son with the outer member as described.

f said yielded by the inture. he latter indeouter members of the device and normally In testimony whereof I aliix my signa- VVALTER LUND STROM.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

Correction in letters Patent No. 1,237,070

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No.v1,237,070, granted August 14,

1917 upon the application of Welter Lundstrom, for an improvement in "Post- Hole Diggers, an error appears requiring correction es follows: In the grant and in the heading to the printed specification the residence of the petentee is given es Ahnont, Montane, Whereas said residence should have been given as Alma/mi,

North Dakota,l and that the seid Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the oase in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of January, A. D., 1918.

[SEAL] R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner 0f Patents'. Ci. 255M70. 

